Marion County RECORD

Responding to constituent concerns they claimed resulted from a Marion County Record headline July 23, county commissioners reaffirmed Monday that the county courthouse will remain in Marion.
“I need to straighten something out,” Commissioner Dan Holub said. “When you guys were talking about the courthouse, you were not talking about moving the courthouse of the city of Marion, right?”

Brown water plagues Marion and Peabody residents, but Hillsboro doesn’t get the same number of complaints.
How quickly the three cities are replacing their nearly 100-year-old cast-iron waterlines with PVC pipe is one reason.

Bob Brookens of Marion and Bill Kassebaum of Burdick are fellow Republicans, attorneys, and former Kansas legislators. Their grandfathers, E.C. Brookens and Alf Landon, went to college together.
They also have in common deep concerns about what they believe are disastrous effects of Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax reform plans and the direction of the state under his leadership.

Eugene Enos is frustrated.
After health issues caused him to give up his car, a simple trip to the doctor meant coordinating with his son, who took off work to drive him.

To walk through Lynn Unruh’s rural Marion garden is to walk through a place that looks like it could be from a fairy tale. The gardens around her rural Marion home are dotted with castles and other small ceramic houses. She makes all of them by hand.
The one-to three-foot ornate ceramic structures tie perfectly with Unruh’s love for gardening and architecture, both manmade and not, which is why she started creating them.

Guests who viewed two Holstein dairy cattle at the Marion County Fair last week may have been viewing the last of the program.
Chad Mueller of Tampa has shown dairy cattle at the county fair for 12 years following in his sister’s, brother’s, and father’s footsteps, but for several years, he has been the only entry in the county. This was the final year Mueller was eligible to show, and he’s concerned the project will die.

A mystery business that may begin selling pharmaceuticals, groceries, and fuel in Hillsboro is causing a stir countywide.
Despite repeated protests from some businesses, Hillsboro City Council approved a contract for a national mystery business for the second time Tuesday.

Field conditions could complicate the ongoing investigation into who was responsible for 2,429 marijuana plants seized July 15 in southern Marion County, Sheriff Robert Craft said Tuesday.
“It appears seeds were broadcast over the area, with very minimal tending early on, and then nothing after that,” Craft said. “It hadn’t been tended for a long time.”

Investors declined a $250,000 bid for Sunrise Townhomes from a Wichita man at a Tuesday auction.
With more than 25 people present, auctioneers attempted to start bids at $500,000.

Aquatic enthusiasts will have a chance to paddle to their hearts content during Marion County Park and Lake’s third annual paddleboat race at 10 a.m. Aug. 9.
“Several years ago, I kept hearing people say that they wanted to do some boat races,” organizer Maggie Nichols said. “I just wanted to do something nice for the community.”

Residents of Marion County will go to the polls Tuesday to select their parties’ nominees for the Nov. 4 general election.
Voters must bring their driver’s licenses or other forms of identification. Voters also may cast their ballots in advance at the Marion County Courthouse until noon Monday. Mail-in voting also is available. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

After serving as interim CEO, chief nursing officer and Jeremy Ensey has replaced Jeremy Armstrong as CEO of St. Luke Hospital and Living Center.
“I’m a little nervous because it’s a new challenge,” Ensey said. “But I am very excited to take on the challenge.”

Former Hillsboro resident Robert L. Funk, 87, died Thursday at Asbury Park, Newton.
Services were to be this morning at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Newton, with burial at 2 p.m. at Haven of Rest Cemetery, rural Hillsboro. Petersen Funeral Home, Newton, is in charge.

Increased state funding ordered after the state supreme court ruled that legislature violated the state constitution by reducing aid to poor districts will benefit districts in the county.
The lawsuit will help fund each school district’s local option budget (LOB).

With summer break more than halfway over for most Marion County students, school is right around the corner.
Enrollment dates, procedures, and projected student numbers vary across the county.

Jason Hamm of Hillsboro sipped a cold Bud Light to commemorate his victory in what was a hot and hard-hitting demolition derby Saturday night at the county fair.
“It was a good derby, with good officiating and good driving,” said Hamm, drenched in sweat just after the final heat.

After a raise in the entry fee and a reduction in the prize payout, Lloyd Anderson is adamant that he won’t participate in the county fair figure 8 race anymore. Not unless “drastic changes” are made.
Anderson said he paid a $20 entry fee in 2013 for a race that featured a $500 prize pool, with a $250 top prize and payouts for the top four finishers. This year, the entry fee was $30 and the prize pool was $170, top prize $120, with only the top three racers receiving payouts.

For the drivers in the figure 8 race, the night was something of a family reunion for several of the participants.
Amelia Brandt’s father and uncle got her a car for her birthday, and as a thank-you, she rammed it into theirs.

In preparation for Tuesday’s primary election, the Record asked candidates for a short, one-paragraph answer to the question: “What is the single biggest issue and how will you address it?” and to provide a picture of themselves for publication.
The Republican candidates for state representative in District 70 were prompted similarly, but neither John E. Barker nor Brian Huwiler responded. Candidates’ written responses have been edited only for style.

Some people spend vacations soaking up surf and sun, reveling in Old World charm, and basking in high-tech nightlife.
I come to Marion County.

There are always sunflowers growing in my yard. Some of them I plant on purpose. Most of them come up on their own with wild abandon because wherever they find themselves in my yard they are better off than in a ditch. In the spring, I’m pulling sunflower seedlings just like any old common weed, in order to not be taken over by their proliferation.
And just about the time I get everything under control, I take off for a trip to California. You know how it is when you go on any kind of vacation? There are certain things that you just have to relinquish to the fates. No matter how good your caretaker is, he or she doesn’t have the time nor the eye to do it all just like you do.

LETTERS TO EDITOR:

The produce fairy has appeared again. I found sacks of zucchini outside when I opened the doors one day. Previously I found sacks of apples with a note from Laurie Miesse explaining that they were organic and best for applesauce.
Irmagene Goodman brought birthday treats July 17. Thelma Blosser also brought candy corn.

Willy J’s was full of young Marion County residents Thursday night for the first Power Ups of Marion County meeting. Nearly two dozen residents between 21 and 39 attended.
Founder Terry Jones said he was pleased.

A free support group for people caring for older adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 7 in the library at Newton Presbyterian Manor, 1200 E. 7th St. More information is available from Helen Brown, director of social services at the nursing home, at (316) 283-5400, Ext. 1022.

Marion County Democratic Women observed National Day of the Cowboy at their lunch Friday at Marion Senior Center.Marilyn Cox, Estelle McCarty, Connie Fisher, and Janet Bryant read cowboy poetry.
Members also brought liquid dish detergent to contribute to the Marion food bank. Copies of a state convention program book, in which the Marion County group purchased an ad, were available.

Authors, artists, and musicians will be featured Aug. 8 through 10 at Summer in Cottonwood Falls.
Seven shops on Broadway will feature concerts or events along with courthouse tours on Aug. 8.

Four authors will read from their works and discuss writing and literary “voice” at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Bluffs, a historic ranch a mile north of Matfield Green on K-177.
Authors Janet Sunderland, Jack Kline, Lisa Daly, and Tom Averill will read from the literary magazine Kansas City Voices.

Nikki Davenport, chief court services officer in Dickinson County, has been promoted to district court administrator for the Eighth Judicial District, including Marion County.
She replaces Cecil Aska of Geary County, who retired in March.

ANNIVERSARIES:

BIRTHDAYS:

MEMORIES:

The youth baseball and softball season is over in Marion County. Three Cottonwood Valley All Star squads played tournaments in three different states, and all three finished in third.
10 and under baseball

Willard Glasgow of Hillsboro finished 18th out of 40 in his age division at the six-game National Senior Bowling Tournament this month in Reno, Nevada.
He qualified by winning his age bracket last fall at a state tournament in Leavenworth, where he competed as part of a team sponsored by Tampa State Bank.

Hillsboro Recreation Commission and Skywalkers Trampoline and Tumbling of Marion, Wichita, Emporia, and Ottawa will be offering a summer gymnastics program starting today and additional classes this fall.
Summer classes for boys and girls ages 5 through 18 will meet in the 4-H Building on the county fairgrounds for four consecutive Wednesday mornings, at times to be determined.

Three Tabor players, including two from Marion County, are on the preseason all-conference team for the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Offensive lineman Jess Crowley of Wylie, Texas, was a unanimous selection. He was first-team all-conference after last season. New selections are defensive lineman Dylan Delk of Peabody and linebacker Ben Gardner of Hillsboro. All three are juniors.